Not The Last Supper

Posted: January 24, 2011 at 1:07 pm

Morning/happy early afternoon, friends! Catching up from the weekend?

As you may recall from last night’s post, Peter returned to work today. That means I am spending time figuring out and settling into doing things completely on my own during the day. With that in mind, I wanted to get back into regular habits with my new regular routine. I find it much easier to pick up those regular habits in one go because otherwise the more time I let pass, the harder it becomes for me. Kind of like after a vacation, getting back into a regular schedule as soon as possible?

I am not saying I have been on a vacation by any means. I went into labor and then delivered a baby two weeks ago! Duh to that not being a vacation. However, with Peter at home for the past couple weeks and me in that post-baby recovery stage, it was easy to get lazy about certain things. I have felt kind of antsy to start up “normal life” and “normal me” again. Part of that includes getting started with some of my own personal goals.

Over the weekend, we finally did a full grocery shopping trip and I stocked up on many of my favorite healthy eating staples.

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I plan on picking up light workouts again starting today. I have felt ready for workouts for over a week and my body feels adequately rested and prepared. I want to go ahead and get cracking on that routine along with everything else as well. I feel ready. And excited!

Today is not the start of some diet or fitness plan. It’s the continuation of what I love to do – eat healthily and be active because it makes me feel good. In the past I would have approached today with a “last supper” type of attitude. It would mean the beginning of restriction and having to be “100% ON” and “perfect”. I wouldn’t have eaten balanced meals yesterday and over the course of the weekend.

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I had some treats this weekend…but it wasn’t with the mentality that I had to cram in as many as possible. They aren’t going anywhere.

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I simply look at today as a need to continue focusing my priorities on caring for myself in addition to my family. It would be too easy to put myself and my health on the backburner, so I want to pick up the positive momentum from day one of my new normal. I will be working on getting back in shape and losing the baby weight…but in a healthy, balanced, non-restrictive way. There’s no pressure. I’m simply doing what makes me happy and my best self. Time to get started…or I guess I should say…time to keep on keeping on.

Question of the Day – What tips do you have for keeping and getting into healthier habits?

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52 Comments to “Not The Last Supper”
  1. “Time to keep on keeping on”. I love that Tina. You go girl. We’ll be along for the ride. I love your outlook!

  2. I love your attitude toward healthy eating.

    You are great role model 🙂

  3. I think remembering that a coookie or dessert or chip won’t be your last, so there’s no need to eat as if it is! Good luck returning to the swing of things!

  4. Oh I hope you enjoy your workout today!!

  5. Definitely no pressure! One day at a time and do what you can when you can.

  6. sometimes i am a comment fiend, and other times the only place i can read posts is on my phone, so i never comment – but i just wanted to tell you how truly impressed i am with you/your life/your outlook/your family, x a million! you are always such a positive to my day. it is always such a pleasure to read what you have to say! xox

  7. Heather says:

    Sounds like you’ve prepared for getting back into the swing of things. Planning is key!

  8. Krystal says:

    i SEE those cocoa roast almonds! i can’t buy those things anymore. I go nuts on them! (pun totally intended)

    speaking of nuts, i didn’t get walnuts at the grocery store this week because they were too $$ so this morning I channeled my inner Tina and put peanut butter in my steel cut oats/banana/flax. It was super yummy! Jordan thought so too!

    🙂

    Hope your first day “back” goes well! 2 kids is an adjustment, so give it time! i notice you already realized it takes a lot longer to get out the door! i was never late for anything until i had jordan!

    xo

  9. Jess says:

    This is an awesome perspective – because you’re spot-on (as usual): eating healthy does NOT mean you have to give up your favorite foods, does not mean overly restrictive eating and having to go the “last supper” route before getting into a healthy eating routine. Healthy eating is part of an active, healthy lifestyle. But that doesn’t mean you need to be miserable and give up foods that you love now and then. Such a healthy mindset you have, I love it. And PS. I am so excited for you getting to workout again! What are you gonna do today for your first light workout?? Inquiring minds want to know 🙂

  10. I love your positive attitude!:D

  11. You’re right… those temptations aren’t going anywhere, and they will be there to enjoy at some other time. Maybe with the husband or another occassion.

    I’m sure you’ll fall into a new routine in no time. =)

    • Tina says:

      Oh, I will still be having treats. Heck, a bit of chocolate will be a part of every day. Life would be sad without chocolate. 😀

  12. Eating healthy has just been such a huge part of my life that THAT is normal for me, when I go a day with only 1 piece of fruit, I FEEL differently. I FEEL better when I eat well. That motivates me and helps me to make wise choices! I’m glad that you are taking a balanced approach to losing weight post baby! You’ll be back to your old self soon enough! hang in there!

  13. I know exactly what you mean with the whole “last supper” mentality…I’m so over that! I think the fact that you’re recognizing your body’s need to ease back in is huge!

  14. My biggest tip for getting/keeping healthy habits is to make small changes – this way you won’t feel overwhelmed when you first start out & you can get used to your new healthy habits natually. One small change leads to another! And, like you, look at “getting back on the wagon” as continuing…not restarting…

  15. Melie says:

    I totally get that last supper mentality! For me it is more often than not is accompanied by perfectionist mentality such as “i have done/not done this so I might as well keep eating”. Enter bingeing. I think I am better nowadays, but at least for me it has worked better to just not let the healthy habits slip away. Otherwise I find it so difficult to pick up. Keep on keeping on! You are amazing! 🙂

  16. Liz says:

    Desserts totally aren’t going anywhere! I love telling myself that. And if they do go somewhere, you can always find something else, if you really want something sweet. 🙂

  17. I love lists an charts, so I’d say my tip is writing things down. I used to have a spreadsheet on the wall with simple columns of “ate well”, “weight trained”, “cardio”, and a few other goals, and I could check them off if I accomplished them. Was great to just have that visual.

  18. I think a little meal planning and workout planning always helps me stay on track. I find that when I have no healthy food stocked and no workout plan, I fall to the wayside. I say giving yourself easy goals like “I will make sure that two of my meals today are 100% healthy” or “I will do a light cardio workout three times this week” will help you get on the right track without becoming overwhelming. Once you get in a great cardio session, you will feel so good that you won’t think twice about planning another 🙂

  19. Kelly says:

    That’s so great that you don’t have the “last supper” mentality. What a healthy outlook! I used to struggle with that myself in the not-so-distant past, but thankfully have overcome it. I read/heard somewhere that women are particularly prone to that mentality as well as the “I already screwed up today, so I might as well continue to eat poorly” thought pattern. Doing your best and trying to continuously move towards making better choices are the best way (IMO) to make healthy activities a habit. Here’s to getting back to exercise! I know you’re so happy about that. 🙂

  20. Holly says:

    I LOVE this: “Today is not the start of some diet or fitness plan. It’s the continuation of what I love to do – eat healthily and be active because it makes me feel good.” I think that is part of why I really cringe at the term “diet.” My mom has been on countless diets and still has about 100 pounds to lose. I think she definitely looks at it like, “Oh, I won’t be able to have XYZ anymore. At all.” Which is, as we know, not true! I think your way of thinking is how all of us should be – just a continuation of the things that make you feel good. 🙂

  21. Katie says:

    I mean blizzards are def a must to always have in your life ; ) soooo good! My fave blizzards are peanutbutter cup and mint oreo!

    I like to think of healthy eating as a lifestyle, it really is, I dont like the term diet, I just thinks its a mindset too for a healthier eating lifestyle ; )

    Love this post as always I love your posts!

  22. Dorry says:

    My healthy habits start with waking up early and getting in a workout – it sets the tone for my whole day! There are still days when I workout in the afternoon instead, but on the whole, it makes my whole day better when I sweat in the morning. I can be more productive and more focused which affects all my decisions.

  23. oh maaan, blizzards are my fave, and that made me want one SO. BAD. 🙂 glad to see you’re rewarding yourself for all your hard mommy work!

  24. Therese says:

    My biggest healthy habit is trying to get at least one serving of fruits or vegetables at every meal. I’m all too familiar with the “last supper” phenomenon, but I love the idea of picking up the positive momentum from day one of your new normal. I may borrow that idea!

  25. Marie says:

    I’m glad you were able to get out and go the church over the weekend! Let me know if you need anything this week, I know your trying to get in the swing of things but an hour off here or there is a good thing for you too. Remember you are trying to feed a baby, take care of a two year old, and try to sleep in there too and now trying to work out too. phew! one blizzard here and there is not so bad, it’s when you are having ice cream everyday that it gets bad I can tell you from experience)! So enjoy the food God has given us all of them. And remember your beautiful just the way you are!

    • Tina says:

      Things are going eerily smoothly so far. Both of them are napping right now even. I’m all “when is this going to get hard?”

      And I had to laugh at the one blizzard not being a big deal. It is so not and I’m so glad I know that these days. When I mentioned treats aren’t going anywhere…I meant in my diet. I need some sort of sweetness in my daily laugh. Just had some dark chocolate after lunch in fact. 😀 You know me and my love of sweets. I can easily turn down a heavy meal but something sweet? Nah!!

  26. Angela says:

    I did a couple of posts about this a while ago (http://eatspinrunrepeat.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/how-not-to-fall-off-the-wagon-part-1/ and http://eatspinrunrepeat.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/how-not-to-fall-off-the-wagon-part-2/), and I find what really works for me is to break things down into little goals and not expect perfection – because that’s just stressful!

  27. Mellissa says:

    It always helps when I plan out meals and spend time putting chopped up veggies in containers for a few days. It is so much easier to grab those at 6:30am!

  28. As always, I love your perspective! 🙂

  29. Sarah says:

    I love this.
    I kept trying and trying to get back into that healthy groove I was in 9 months ago, but it wasn’t working because I was all or nothing (mostly with different eating plans). Now, I’m focusing on making mostly healthy choices, tracking what I’m eating (it makes me aware and it works for me, but it’s because I’ve been able to break out of the obsessive mindset that sometimes comes with tracking), and loving the gym.
    It took me 9 months to figure it out, but I’m loving it. Probably because, like you, I feel like there’s no rush. Being healthy is just part of life.

    • Tina says:

      So happy to hear this, Sarah! And I lightly track things in my head. To be sure I’m getting enough each meal for b’feeding, but still mindful of portions to not go overboard.

      • Sarah says:

        Thanks, Tina! Reading your blog has been really encouraging to me over this last 9 months (and before that). Thank you for what you do around here (and for all the encouragement you’ve sent my way.)

  30. Nicole, RD says:

    Yum! I want everything you bought! I think meal planning is my #1 get healthy tip. I am always excited about what I’m making and always have leftovers for healthy lunches. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

  31. You just became my new best friend posting your healthy produce and then a DQ blizzard. I seriously think a blizzard might be the first thing I eat on February 1st. 🙂 🙂

  32. Em says:

    Yay I’m so excited for you to start working out again <–hope that didn't come out wrong haha. I just think it would be such a fun challenge after having a baby, you know, a new goal to conquer. I can't wait till it's my turn. And I can't wait to see your workouts 😀

  33. When it comes to exercise, I think about the feeling I get after a workout, that feeling is soo nice! And I am always in such a wonderful mood. And for eating, I try to think of it has what will the food do for my body? Will I be giving my body something it needs? And how will I feel afterwards. And don’t get me wrong, I have a major sweet tooth..its just all about moderation when it comes to the sweet stuff.:)

  34. Lauren says:

    Hope you enjoy your workout today! I try one thing at a time – a new fitness class or eating less sweets instead of trying a ton of new things all at once. That way, I can focus on that one healthy habit and learn to enjoy it (or not). This weekend, I went to my first spinning class and loved it, so I hope to include those in my workouts!

  35. my tip is just to stay consistent and stick with it- healthy habits like waking up and exercising may seem daunting to someone who has never done it before, but after doing it for a while it will become part of your daily routine. new habits take time to adjust to, but once you start and stick with it (especially things like healthy eating and exercising) it becomes your lifestyle, not a chore.

  36. Allie says:

    I know you will do great getting back into ‘normal’ routines. I love your attitude about treats and how they will always be there plus their isn’t any rush. I am glad you are ready to go back to working out but you are still going light on it-very wise 🙂 Have a great Monday.

  37. My tip for healthier habits is to really visualize the bigger picture… by taking care of my body with a healthy diet and good exercise, I am able to do more (physically and mentally), be there for more people, enjoy life more, and hopefully have many long lovely years ahead of me as a result! Taking care of myself really feels good literally and figuratively!

  38. I remember when I used to eat a “last supper” before “dieting” again…cutting out treats just does not work and only lasts a couple days!

  39. Yeah! I agree with all that you said! Go Tina~instead of ‘cramming’ in a diet season/plan, it is so much easier on our bodies to just simply be as healthy as we can as we progress in life. One of the things that help me work at optimum level is just eating 5-6 adequate sized meals per day. I don’t have to cook all of it(only breakfast, lunch, and dinner are full meals), but just keep feeding snacks to my body as it starts to need fuel. I also like to park further away in parking lots, and always take the stairs. Unless I’m late. To class. 🙂

  40. […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tina Reale, Tina Reale. Tina Reale said: Not The Last Supper: Morning/happy early afternoon, friends! Catching up from the weekend? Sitting Pretty – imp… http://bit.ly/h70tVI […]

  41. Good luck this week as Peter returns to work, Tina!

  42. I like how you realize eating healthy is a continuation of what you love to do – not something you HAVE to do or something that doesn’t seem fun.

  43. I think the best tip is to just take it a day, meal, snack, at a time..do the best you can at that moment and don’t look back..thats all any of us can do!

    BTW the blizzzrd looks fabulous!

  44. Heather says:

    I love your whole mentality about healthy eating! I honestly believe the only way to “keep on keeping on” is by making little changes here and there. Over the last year, my diet has transformed completely and I’ve never felt better!

    PS, I love your bowl of oats with fresh berries and yogurt! I really need to get me some strawberries, I’m just nervous that I’ll spend money on them and they’ll taste blah since they’re out of season!

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